Find out how popular the last name Afoa is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Afoa.

Afoa, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Afoa surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Afoa in America

Afoa is the 69170th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Afoa surname appeared 284 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Afoa.

We can also compare 2010 data for Afoa to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Afoa

The surname AFOA has its origins in the Samoan language, where it is derived from the words "afa" meaning "the" and "oa" meaning "path" or "road". This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a particular path or road, or perhaps someone whose occupation involved traveling along such routes.

The earliest recorded instances of the AFOA surname can be traced back to the 18th century in the Samoan archipelago, located in the South Pacific Ocean. Historical records from this period mention individuals bearing this name, although exact dates and details are scarce due to the oral traditions and limited written documentation of the time.

One notable figure in Samoan history associated with the AFOA surname was Afoa Leleua, a high chief and influential leader in the late 18th century. He was renowned for his wisdom and diplomacy in resolving conflicts between rival villages and governing the affairs of his people.

In the 19th century, as Samoan society underwent significant changes due to Western influences and Christian missionary activities, the AFOA surname became more widely documented. Afoa Talavou, born in 1825, was a prominent figure who played a key role in the conversion of his village to Christianity and the establishment of educational institutions.

Another historical figure of note was Afoa Lutu, who lived in the late 19th century and was a respected orator and expert in traditional Samoan customs and practices. His knowledge and insights were highly valued by his contemporaries and helped preserve important aspects of Samoan cultural heritage.

As Samoans migrated to other parts of the world, particularly to New Zealand, Australia, and the United States, the AFOA surname spread and became more widely known. Afoa Faalua, born in 1892, was one of the earliest Samoan immigrants to New Zealand, where he worked as a farmer and contributed to the growing Samoan community in that country.

Afoa Leulumoega, born in 1920, was a prominent Samoan educator and author who wrote extensively on Samoan language, culture, and folklore. His works played a significant role in preserving and promoting Samoan heritage both within Samoa and among the diaspora communities abroad.

While the AFOA surname may not be as widely known as some others, it holds a rich historical significance in Samoan culture and has been carried by individuals who have made notable contributions to their communities and societies over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Afoa

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Afoa.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Afoa was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Afoa has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Afoa was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Afoa, please contact us.

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